Form 26AS, part of the Income-Tax Act, is now referred to as the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and provides a detailed overview of a taxpayer's financial activities for the year. This form includes information on advance tax, self-assessment tax, tax deducted at source (TDS), tax collected at source (TCS), and any refunds received. It is updated once the Income Tax department processes the TDS returns filed by authorized deductors by May 31 each year, taking an additional seven days to reflect in taxpayers' accounts.

To download Form 26AS, users must log in to the Income Tax e-filing portal using their PAN or Aadhaar number. After logging in, they can navigate to the 'Income Tax Returns' section and select 'View Form 26AS', which redirects them to the TRACES website. Alternatively, taxpayers can access their Form 26AS through their bank's net banking services, provided they are linked to their PAN. Authorized banks include major institutions like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and State Bank of India. This flexibility allows taxpayers to easily access their financial information and provide feedback on any discrepancies.